Chase Freedom bonus categories are back with new offers that are going to excite cash-back enthusiasts. Cardholders can now earn high annual returns with the Chase Freedom Flex. Based on last year’s rewards categories and consumer spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American can earn over $400 in cash back each year with this no-annual-fee card. However, this requires maximizing its quarterly Chase Freedom bonus categories.
Currently, you can get 5% cash back on purchases at Amazon.com, hotels, and restaurants if you activate by June 14.
How To Get a Maximum Return on Chase Freedom Bonus Categories
Maximize the Chase Freedom bonus categories Flex 5% this quarter by focusing on purchases at Amazon.com, hotels, and restaurants. Here’s how to make the most of your spending in each category:
Amazon.com
This category covers all purchases on Amazon.com and grocery purchases at Whole Foods. Use this opportunity to stock up on your regular Amazon items. If you do not have a higher-earning grocery rewards card, consider making Whole Foods your primary supermarket this quarter.
Chase Freedom bonus categories include Eligible purchases from Amazon.com orders, Amazon Fresh, digital downloads, along with in-store spending at Whole Foods and Whole Foods 365, and purchases on WholeFoodsMarket.com. Exclusions are purchases from international Amazon or Whole Foods sites, merchants using Amazon Pay, and Whole Foods groceries bought through third parties like Instacart or Shipt.
Hotels
You can earn 5% cash back this quarter through the Chase Freedom bonus categories when you book directly with hotel brands. This does not apply to bookings through third-party sites or vacation packages. Additionally, you can earn up to 9% cash back on hotel stays booked as part of the Chase Freedom bonus categories. This can be availed through Chase Travel by combining bonus rewards (1% base, 4% quarterly bonus, and 5% standard Chase Travel rewards) on prepaid bookings.
Restaurants
You can also get a total of 7% cash back with the help of Chase Freedom bonus categories. This can be done at restaurants this quarter by combining bonus rewards (1% base, 4% quarterly bonus, and 3% standard dining rewards). This includes all types of restaurants, from fast food to fine dining.
Maximizing Your Credit Card Benefits
Combine your Chase Freedom Flex with another Chase card to maximize rewards in Chase Freedom bonus categories. Though it is a cash-back card, you can redeem travel rewards through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Pooling points from other Chase cards in the same account can enhance your redemption options.
Chase Freedom bonus categories can be maximized with Sapphire Prefered. Chase Sapphire Preferred charges a $95 annual fee and earns 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), and select streaming services.
Additionally, combining these cards offers another travel perk. Sapphire Preferred cardholders can transfer points to Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners. This feature allows you to transfer your Chase rewards to accounts with United MileagePlus or Marriott Bonvoy, among others.
To get a good deal on Chase Freedom bonus categories, you can combine a Chase Sapphire Reserve with the Freedom Flex, which offers comparable benefits. This makes it an excellent choice for frequent travelers seeking to enhance their travel rewards with cash-back earnings. However, with a $550 annual fee, this option suits those who travel often.
The Sapphire Reserve provides up to $300 annual statement credits for travel expenses. Once the credit is exhausted, you’ll earn 10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel, 5x points on flights through Chase Travel, and 3x points on all other travel purchases. You can also get a better deal on Chase Freedom bonus categories, earning 10x points on Chase Dining, 3x points on all other dining expenses, and 1x points on all other purchases. Like the Sapphire Preferred, the Reserve card offers a limited-time welcome bonus of 75,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.
When you redeem points through Chase Travel with the Sapphire Reserve, you receive a 50% boost, allowing you to get up to 1.5 cents per point for travel. Furthermore, you can transfer Sapphire Reserve points to Chase’s travel partners. Combining these two cards allows you to maximize your travel value and Chase Freedom bonus categories.
Another card you can use to maximize your Chase Freedom bonus categories is the Chase Freedom Unlimited, a no-annual-fee cash-back card similar to the Freedom Flex. It offers 5% cash back on Chase Travel, 3% back on dining and at drugstores, and a flat 1.5% cash back on all other purchases, unlike the Freedom Flex’s rotating quarterly categories.
During the first year, Freedom Unlimited’s welcome bonus provides a boosted rewards rate, offering 1.5% more in each category (up to the first $20,000 in purchases), potentially yielding an extra $300 cash back. This means you’ll earn 6.5% back on Chase Travel, 4.5% back on dining and at drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases during your first year until you reach the spending cap.
Both Freedom cards allow you to redeem rewards as points through Chase Travel, enabling you to combine points for a larger redemption and better deals from Chase Freedom bonus categories. However, unlike the Sapphire cards, there’s no reward boost, and they’re worth a standard 1 cent per point. You can’t access Chase’s transfer partners with Freedom Flex or Freedom Unlimited.
While there’s some overlap in rewards categories and no added boost for redemptions, combining the two Freedom cards may offer fewer benefits than pairing a Freedom card with a Sapphire card. Nevertheless, if you prefer earning cash back and want to maximize quarterly categories while still earning at least 1.5% back, this combination could be a solid choice.
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